I found the following article heartning. I persoannly support a gradual conditioning of Israeli society towards Torah Law. But perhaps this is a better apporach.
www.ynetnews.com/articles...50,00.html
Shas' goal: Restoring Judaism's standing
Politicians who warn about haredi 'threat', will remain out of Knesset
Roee Lahmanovitch
Now that the smoke has cleared, each political camp must examine the damage caused by the political tsunami of 2006.
The truth is that the storm was somewhat unclear, but still, the bottom line is clear: The haredi (ultra-Orthodox) camp gained two seats, whereas the anti-Orthodox camp has vanished.
Elections 2006
Selective parasites / Yael Dayan
Knesset women must form defensive wall against ultra-Orthodox, Yael Dayan writes
Full Story
In any event, we can take heart: Even given the strengthening of the ultra-Orthodox camp, there is no reason for the secular army to prepare its mezuzah-less bomb shelters for the general public.
Jewish values
Shas leader Eli Yishai has said more than once that he has no intention or desire to create a country run by Jewish law (halacha), even if Shas were to win 61 Knesset seats.
Yishai does want to provide a strong Jewish education to every child. Which of our young readers (and perhaps older ones as well) can identify the source that implores us to help people simply because it is the right thing to do, rather than for the payback? To open our homes to the poor and needy? To judge people favorably?
These lofty ideas do not come from some instruction manual issued by the education department. They were not taken from a doctoral thesis from a Ph.D. candidate in education from Harvard.
No, they come from the Mishna, from the tractate commonly known as Chapters of the Fathers. Would it really be so bad if all Israeli students were required to learn this tractate? There is no need to go running to the Ministry of Education. They are printed in most standard editions of the prayer book.
Joint responsibility
The weakening of the secular camp does not release it from its responsibility to join forces with the ultra-Orthodox camp to create a Jewish coalition. It should be self-evident that such a coalition will work to preserve the Orthodox monopoly over personal status issues, raise the level of religious services essentially, all the things that have suffered over the last three years.
The coalition that is not quite so self-evident is the social coalition. Concern for orphans, the desire to help widows, observing the Torah's requirement to honor the elderly are all drawn from Jewish sources.
Jewish law has been well known for its social conventions. At the time when people had slaves, if a slave master had but one pillow, he had to allow the slave to sleep on it, rather than keep it for himself.
Restoring honor
It is not divorced from reality to think that in the coming years the ultra-Orthodox camp could justifiably concern itself with restoring the standing of Judaism in society. The potential political power and the strong blow almost require it and in this light, no one who considers themselves "non-religious" can do anything about it.
The non-religious public can take part or not. There is no middle ground. As MK Eli Yishai has said more than once, when he demands extra funding for the country's national health package, his calls are not limited to Shas voters alone.
Social demands, even when raised by haredi politicians, do not become less social. Therefore, the secular can take heart: Supporting such demands will not turn trendy Tel Avivians into yeshiva students.
Final word
And one more word for readers who view the advancement of Shas and United Torah Judaism as a dark day. For the past three years the ultra-Orthodox camp has been pushed away from virtually all positions of influence and stripped of virtually all its ability to act.
Building the best possible lines is done by sticking to the true path, not by abandoning it. If the non-religious public continues to warn that the haredim want to impose Jewish law on this country, its leaders will continue to see the inside of the Knesset only from organized tours.
We needn't agree on everything, but the debate must be honest and in depth. True, someone lost and someone won. Just don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Let's work together, for the sake of the whole Jewish people.
www.ynetnews.com/articles...50,00.html
Shas' goal: Restoring Judaism's standing
Politicians who warn about haredi 'threat', will remain out of Knesset
Roee Lahmanovitch
Now that the smoke has cleared, each political camp must examine the damage caused by the political tsunami of 2006.
The truth is that the storm was somewhat unclear, but still, the bottom line is clear: The haredi (ultra-Orthodox) camp gained two seats, whereas the anti-Orthodox camp has vanished.
Elections 2006
Selective parasites / Yael Dayan
Knesset women must form defensive wall against ultra-Orthodox, Yael Dayan writes
Full Story
In any event, we can take heart: Even given the strengthening of the ultra-Orthodox camp, there is no reason for the secular army to prepare its mezuzah-less bomb shelters for the general public.
Jewish values
Shas leader Eli Yishai has said more than once that he has no intention or desire to create a country run by Jewish law (halacha), even if Shas were to win 61 Knesset seats.
Yishai does want to provide a strong Jewish education to every child. Which of our young readers (and perhaps older ones as well) can identify the source that implores us to help people simply because it is the right thing to do, rather than for the payback? To open our homes to the poor and needy? To judge people favorably?
These lofty ideas do not come from some instruction manual issued by the education department. They were not taken from a doctoral thesis from a Ph.D. candidate in education from Harvard.
No, they come from the Mishna, from the tractate commonly known as Chapters of the Fathers. Would it really be so bad if all Israeli students were required to learn this tractate? There is no need to go running to the Ministry of Education. They are printed in most standard editions of the prayer book.
Joint responsibility
The weakening of the secular camp does not release it from its responsibility to join forces with the ultra-Orthodox camp to create a Jewish coalition. It should be self-evident that such a coalition will work to preserve the Orthodox monopoly over personal status issues, raise the level of religious services essentially, all the things that have suffered over the last three years.
The coalition that is not quite so self-evident is the social coalition. Concern for orphans, the desire to help widows, observing the Torah's requirement to honor the elderly are all drawn from Jewish sources.
Jewish law has been well known for its social conventions. At the time when people had slaves, if a slave master had but one pillow, he had to allow the slave to sleep on it, rather than keep it for himself.
Restoring honor
It is not divorced from reality to think that in the coming years the ultra-Orthodox camp could justifiably concern itself with restoring the standing of Judaism in society. The potential political power and the strong blow almost require it and in this light, no one who considers themselves "non-religious" can do anything about it.
The non-religious public can take part or not. There is no middle ground. As MK Eli Yishai has said more than once, when he demands extra funding for the country's national health package, his calls are not limited to Shas voters alone.
Social demands, even when raised by haredi politicians, do not become less social. Therefore, the secular can take heart: Supporting such demands will not turn trendy Tel Avivians into yeshiva students.
Final word
And one more word for readers who view the advancement of Shas and United Torah Judaism as a dark day. For the past three years the ultra-Orthodox camp has been pushed away from virtually all positions of influence and stripped of virtually all its ability to act.
Building the best possible lines is done by sticking to the true path, not by abandoning it. If the non-religious public continues to warn that the haredim want to impose Jewish law on this country, its leaders will continue to see the inside of the Knesset only from organized tours.
We needn't agree on everything, but the debate must be honest and in depth. True, someone lost and someone won. Just don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Let's work together, for the sake of the whole Jewish people.
